McLeish - I expected that

Birmingham boss looks at 'bigger picture'

Last updated: 29th December 2007   Subscribe to RSS Feed

McLeish - I expected that

McLeish: Conditions a problem

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Alex McLeish admits Fulham played as he expected after Birmingham City were held to a 1-1 draw at St Andrews.

Carlos Bocanegra headed Fulham into an early lead before Sebastian Larsson's deflected shot in the second half secured Blues a point.

Following the Cottagers' heavy defeat at Tottenham on Boxing Day, Birmingham boss McLeish was anticipating a hard-fought affair.

"I knew Fulham are up against it and would come into our faces," McLeish told Sky Sports.

"I read Ray Lewington's piece in the papers after the Spurs game and I expected that."

McLeish was prepared to accept a point from the game after conceding his side struggled in the conditions in the first half.

Assertive

He added: "I have got to look at the big picture. We have taken eight points from six games and if we maintain that average we will be all right.

"Given the way we played in the first half a point is something we would have accepted, but we produced a very assertive performance in the second half and could have won the game.

"The elements caused us problems in the first half in terms of the wind, but we used it to our advantage in the second 45 minutes.

"There was a reaction from the players at half-time. They gave everything and the second half was more like the Middlesbrough performance of Boxing Day."

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